Spring motor



April 29, 1930. A. H. COLLINS SPRING MOTOR Filed JaH. s. .1927

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IIIIIIII/A I Patented Apr. 29 1930 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE ARTHUR H. COLLINS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR 013 ON E-HALF TO LEON- ARD B. MACCULLOUGI-I, 0F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA SPRING MOTOR Application filed January 8, 1927. Serial No. 159,844.

This invention relates to and has for one of its objects to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive spring motor which shall be especially adapted for imparting a uniform and gentle swinging movement to the bed of an infants cradle.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists of'the construction, combina tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cradle equipped with a spring motor embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional View illustrating the connection between the motor and bed with the latter in operative connection with and being moved in one direction by the former,

Figure 3 is a similar view with the bed at the limit of its movement and the operative connection between it and the motor broken, and

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in the several views of which like reference characters denote like parts, 1 designates the posts, 2 the bottom and 3 the bed of the cradle. The bottom 2 is hollow and closed at all sides, and is provided with a drawer 4. The posts 1 are secured adjacent their lower ends to the corners of the bottom 2. The bed 3 is supported from the posts 1 by hangers 5 which are pivoted at their upper ends as at 6 to the posts and at their lower ends as at 7 to the bed.

The motor is located within the bottom 2, and comprises a frame 8 in which are journaled shafts 9 and 10. A spring ll is wound about and secured at one end to the shaft 9, and has its other end secured to the frame 8 as at 12. A gear 13 is fixed to the shaft 9 and meshes with a smaller gear 14 fixed to the shaft 10. A ratchet wheel 15 is fixed to the shaft 10, and cooperating therewith is a detent 16 which functions to normally hold the shafts 9 and 10 against rotation by the spring 11. The shafts 9 and 10 are horizontally arranged, and the detent 16 is arranged in an upright position and has its lower end pivoted as at 17 to the frameS. A spring 18 secured at one end to the frame 8 and at its other to the detent 16, yieldingly holds the spring in engagement with the ratchet wheel 15. A lever 19 which passes through a slotv 20 in the top side of the bottom 2 embodies similar members 19 which are pivoted at their lower ends to the shaft 10 at opposite sides of the ratchet wheel 15. The upper ends 20 of the lever members 19 are secured together as shown at 21. A gravity actuated pawl 22 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 23 to and between the lever members 19. The ratchet wheel 15 has four equally spaced teeth 15 and the detent 16 is provided at its upper end with a pawl contacting portion 16 A trip 24 is secured to the frame 8 in the path of the pawl 22, and is adapted to withdraw the pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel 15 to limit the movement of the lever 19 by the motor.

The bed 3 may be, if desired, provided with a screen 25 which comprises similar sections 25 which are hinged as at 25 to the ends of the bed. A U-shaped bar 26 is pivoted at its ends as at 27 to the under side of the bed 3 in the path of the free end of the lever 19, and coil springs 28 are secured to the bed and bar.

The bed 3 is adapted to swing forwardly and rearwardly. It is moved in a rearwarddirection only by the motor. lVhen the bed 3 is at rest, the detent 16 is. in engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 15 and holdsthe ratchet wheel 15 against movement under the influence of the spring 11, the lever 19 occupying a rearwardly inclined position in which position it is supported by the rear end wall of the slot 20, the pawl 22 is in retracted position in which position it is held by the trip 24, and the bar 26 is spaced rearwardly from the free end of the lever, all as shown in Figure 3. When it is desired to set the bed 3 in motion, it is moved forpawl 22 out of contact with the trip 24L, and causes the pawl to contact with and move the detent 16 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 15. As the result of its contact with the detent 16, the pawl 22 is caused to engage the tooth 15 previously engaged by the detent. As the motor is now operating and as the pawl 22 is in engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 15 a rearward movement will'be imparted to the bed 3. Before the bed 3 reaches the limit of this movement, the trip 24 moves the pawl 22 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 15 and the detent 16 engages another of the ratchet teeth 15. The bed 3 is now freed from the motor and after completing its rearward movement will swing forwardly. Before it reaches the limit of its forward movement, an operative connection will be again established between it and the motor. It will thus be apparent that the bed 3 is positively moved in one direction by the motor, that before it reaches the limit of its movement in this direction its operative connection with the motor is broken, and that before it reaches the limit of its movement in the opposite direction its operative connection with the motor is again established.

It should be understood that the drawing is merely illustrative and does not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawing is illustrative of a preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a spring motor including a ratchet wheel, a lever adapted to be actuated in one direction by the motor and in the opposite direction by engagement with a swingingly mounted member, a detent engaging the ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by the lever and adapted to retract the detent and engage the ratchet wheel during the movement of the lever in said second direction, and a trip adapted to retract the pawl during the movement of the lever in said first direction.

2. In combination, a spring motor including a ratchet wheel, a lever adapted to be actuated in one direction by the motor and in the opposite direction by engagement with a swingingly mounted member, a detent engaging the ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by the lever and adapted to retract the detent and engage the ratchet wheel during the movement of the lever in said second direc tion, a trip adaptedto retract the pawl during the movement of the lever in said first direction, and means establishing an operative connection between the member and lever, said means consisting of a pivoted bar, and springs connected to the bar and member.

3. In combination, a spring motor includa pawl carried by the lever and adapted to retract the detent and engage the ratchet wheel during the movement of the lever in said second direction, and a trip adapted to retract the pawl during the movement of the.

lever in said first direction.

4. In combinatlon, a spring motor including a shaft and a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft, a lever consisting of similar members pivoted to the shaft at opposite sides of the ratchet wheel and adapted to be moved in one direction by the motor and in the opposite direction by engagement with a swingingly mounted member, a detent engaging the ratchet wheel at one side of the shaft, a pawl pivoted to and between the members of the lever and adapted to retract the detent and engage the ratchet wheel during the movement of the lever in said second direction, and a trip located at the opposite side of the shaft and adapted to retract the pawl during the movement of the lever in said first direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR H. COLLINS. 

